Prosecutor: Write Your Repentance Letters!

While lack of information about the conditions of many journalists and political prisoners, along with the affliction of several to serious health ailments, has worried their families and the public in general, during a recent meeting with prisoners Tehran’s prosecutor, Jaafari-Dolatabadi, asked them to write their letters of repentance, as a condition for their release.

Families of some journalists and political prisoners told Rooz that the prosecutor had asked the prisoners and their families to write repentance letters in a series of meetings held throughout the past three weeks.

The pressure is imposed while Tehran’s prosecutor has not provided any explanations yet about the health ailments affecting some prisoners.

On Sunday, prosecutor Jafari-Dolatabadi met with prisoners Isa Saharkhiz, Ahmad Zeidabadi, Davoud Soleimani, Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, Mansour Osanlu, Mehdi Mahmoudian, Reza Rafei-Foroushani, Mostafa Eskandari, Masoud Moradi-Bastani and Resoul Badaghi at the Rajaishahr prison.

At the same time, the judiciary issued heavy sentences for some journalists and political prisoners. Davoud Soleimani, who was sentenced by a lower court to imprisonment for six years, had his sentence reviewed by the appellate court which reduced his term to three years. Part of his sentence bars him from membership in political parties or journalism work for 10 years.

Sasan Aghaie was sentenced to serve in prison for one year by branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court. The journalist was charged with propaganda against the regime and has not been released on bail.

Parvin Javadzadeh, who was arrested on Ashoura religious day, has been sentenced to 8 years and six months of prison. According to a report received by Rooz, Ms. Javadzadeh, who is 22 years old, was arrested at her house. She spent 80 days in solitary confinement at the notorious 2A ward belonging to the Islamic Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) before being transferred to Evin prison’s women’s ward.

During a meeting with Ms. Javadzadeh last week, Tehran’s prosecutor had promised her release. He contacted Judge Salavati during that meeting and asked him to prepare for the release of the political prisoner. But on Monday her family and attorney were surprised when authorities announced the harsh sentence for her.

Mohammad Ghaznavian, a children’s rights activist, was put on trial in the city of Ghazvin on charges of “communication with an anti-regime group” and “propaganda against the regime.”

At the same time, human rights activist Abolfazl Abedini’s visitation rights were taken away. Mr. Abedini is currently serving an 11-year prison term in ward 6 of Karoun Prison in the city of Ahwaz.

News websites also reported yesterday that Zahra Jabbari’s young child had committed suicide. According to the reports, the 17-year-old child of Mrs. Jabbari committed suicide due to the mental strain and pressure imposed by security agents as well as her mother’s health condition.

Zahra Jabbari was arrested on the Ghods (Palestine) Day and sentenced to 4 years of prison by branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court.